Mustang Complex Wildfires Continue

Since this fire began, the Mustang Complex wildfire on the Idaho/Montana border has burned more than 1,106,545 acres in Idaho alone. The cause of the fire was a lightning strike back in late July. The fire has been difficult to fight due to steep terrain and thick smoke (pictured below). The fire has been exacerbated by the plentiful supply of dead and downed lodge pole pine trees found at higher altitudes. Idaho is no stranger to wildfires, having sizeable fires at least every other year. In 2007 the East Zone Complex burned approximately 315,000 acres alone, not including the other fires that occurred that year.

 http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=79021